Bring an experienced wilderness guide along!

Looking for the best experience the Boundary Waters has to offer? Take one of our wilderness guides along. Their knowledge and passion are contagious. They’ll help you get the most out of your wilderness adventure and teach you the skills necessary for future Boundary Waters trips.

Whether you are planning on a day trip, short overnight trip, or a longer adventure, our guides are available to accommodate your needs. We are flexible and fully customizable.  See all our exciting trip options below. 

Fish the remote backwaters of the Boundary Waters where the lunkers lie in wait. Let us guide you to our favorite honey holes for a day of fishing action within the peace and quiet of the Boundary Waters inner sanctum... Permit and all equipment included, except fishing gear. You must have valid MN fishing licenses.

What to bring along on All Day Trips:
Good rain gear, sunglasses, hat, camera, sunscreen, licenses, water and water bottle, fishing gear...

Don't have time to commit to a Canoe Camping Trip in the Wilderness, but still want to experience the beauty of the great northwoods? No problem! Our Guides are available on a daily basis and this is a great opportunity for those short on time and also provides a great introduction to canoe country.

Guided Day Canoe Trips:

Join the staff of Piragis Northwoods Company on a custom guided nature experience in the Ely area. Discover the special habitats that make the northwoods so unique; floating bogs, old growth pines, boreal spruce stands. Explore our country with specialists in bird songs and bird I.D., forest ecology and flowering plants. Paddle and hike during your excursion into the world of nature. Great photography opportunities await.

What to bring along on All Day Trips:

Good rain gear, sunglasses, hat, camera, sunscreen, licenses, water and water bottle, optional fishing gear...

Our experienced guides pride themselves on providing you with the trip of a lifetime. They will help make the trip accessible and more enjoyable for your group. We can do trips of any length. Advantages of bringing a guide along:

• Spend more quality time with friends and family.
• Learn how to be efficient in canoe country.
• Help portaging.
• Improve your paddling skills.
• Find the best campsites and fishing holes.
• Take the pressure out of navigating.
• Gourmet cooking over the fire.
• Learn flora and fauna.
• Lots of photo opportunities.
• Practice your camp craft.
• Help with camp chores and finding good firewood.

JumpStart Guide Service
This is a nice option for a group that wants a little guidance at the beginning of the trip but then wants to venture into the wilderness on their own, or the group that has some outdoor experience, but not much Boundary Waters tripping experience.  Think of it as a One-day Boundary Waters Canoe Camping Clinic with your own personal instructor. It’s a great introduction to traveling and camping on your own in the BWCAW.

How it works:
Our experienced guide will meet your group on the morning of the trip. They will help you get all packed up, organized for the trip, and review your route. You will all head into the wilderness together, the guide leading the way and teaching you how to be efficient in canoe country. The guide will spend the whole day and the first night with you and your crew.  This way, they can help with dinner, campfires, and clean-up for the first night. The guide will leave at 7am the next morning.  You will be on your own at this point. The guide isn’t there to help in the morning. Their focus will be on exiting the wilderness. You may not even see them in the morning if you aren’t up early.

The guide will assist with the following and aim to teach you things such as how to:

• Pack your bag.
• Load and unload the canoe.
• Paddle a canoe.
• Basic Boundary Waters navigation.
• Portaging tricks.
• Basic campcraft. (How to hang a tarp, gather firewood, start a fire, set up tents, etc.)
• Cook over the campfire and do dishes in the wilderness.
• Hang your food pack/take bear precautions.

**Because the guide must exit the wilderness in a timely fashion in the morning, only certain routes and trips are appropriate. Call us for more details and to see if this is an option for your trip. In many cases, it may be best to hire a guide for the duration of your trip.